Developing the Physical Performance in Youth Soccer

Developing the Physical Performance in Youth Soccer: Short-term Effect of Dynamic-Ecological Versus Traditional Training Approach for Sub-élite U13 Players: An Ecological Exploratory Cluster Randomised Trial

Therefore, this study aims to verify the effects of a soccer training program based on the dynamic-ecological approach on U13 sub-elité players' physical efficiency by analysing explosive strength, speed, resistance to speed and muscle flexibility. This study hypothe-sises that the dynamic-ecological approach can consistently help players develop adequate physical efficiency and motor coordination.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Motor Activity
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: dynamic ecological approach (DEA); Other: traditional training group

Detailed Description

Nowadays, research in youth soccer consists of methodological choices that can raise ac-tivity volumes and exercise intensity to promote proper training for youth soccer de-mands. Therefore, the present cluster randomised trial aims to evaluate the effects on physical performance parameters of the dynamic-ecological approach compared with a traditional one in a group of sub-élite U13 players. Thirty-five male children (age 12.16 ± 0.55 years; weight 45.59 ± 7.15 kg; height 145.5 ± 4.2 cm; BMI 15.8 ± 2.1 kg*m-²) were re-cruited for this trial from two teams belonging to sub-élite soccer schools and randomly assigned in a dynamic-ecological approach (DEA) or a traditional training (TTG) group. The training program lasted six weeks and consisted of 18 training sessions of 90 minutes each (3 sessions per week). The sample was evaluated by Standing Long Jump (SLJ), hop test (HT), 10 m sprint (10m), 10 x 5 m shuttle run test (SRT) and Leg Raise test (LR). The DEA group showed significantly higher results in the SLJ (p< .001), HT left leg (p<.001), 10m sprint (p<.001), and SRT (p<.001). In conclusion, the dynamic-ecological approach provides higher performance adaptations. Therefore, this approach can be considered a suitable method to optimise prepubertal player training, mainly when no fitness or strength coach is available.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 35
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Italy
  • Turin, Italy, 10100
    • Cit Turin LDE

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• had not suffered an injury in the previous 6 months;
• who, in the 4 weeks before the study, had systematically performed the training sessions without interruptions or absences;
• all those who, upon medical evaluation, fell within stages 3 and 4 of Tanner's classification

Exclusion Criteria:

-Goalkeepers and players who had been injured in the previous six months or did not meet the established minimum compliance were excluded from this study

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Other
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: dynamic-ecological approach (DEA); The DEA completed 18 ninety-minute sessions (3 per week) for six weeks oriented to soccer training using the dynamic ecological approach	Other: dynamic ecological approach (DEA); The DEA completed 18 ninety-minute sessions (3 per week) for six weeks oriented to soccer training using the dynamic ecological approach
Active Comparator: traditional training group (TTG); TTG followed a traditional soccer training program for the same period and number of ses-sions without any intervention attributable to the dynamic ecological approach	Other: traditional training group; The TTG followed a traditional soccer training program for the same period and number of sessions without any intervention attributable to the dynamic ecological approach

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Number of participants evaluated on physical efficiency	Direct outcome measurements pre-test vs post-test, Intervention vs treatment	From enrollment to the end of the study at six weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Turin, Italy
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Federico Abate Daga, MSC PhD, University of Turin, Italy

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): October 15, 2023
• Primary Completion (Actual): October 30, 2023
• Study Completion (Actual): February 15, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 24, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 26, 2024
• First Posted (Actual): April 29, 2024

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimated): May 2, 2024
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 30, 2024
• Last Verified: April 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: soccer performance; ecological dynamic approach; motor performance ability; young soccer player
• Other Study ID Numbers: 0433611

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: Italian GDPR law

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No